General Specifications - Appendix 6

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PAINTING 
AND CEMENTING VESSELS 
OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY

Edition of June 1943

 

Chapter 5. - Inside Painting.

 

SECTION 5-A.

Finish of Compartments.

The kind of paint for the finish of interior compartments shall be in accordance with the subjoining table.

LIVING AND WORKING SPACES
Compartment Vertical Sides and Overhead  Decks
Crew's quarters 1 coat of inside white formula 27 1 coat gray deck formula 20-L
Hangers 1 coat of inside white formula 27 1 coat gray deck formula 20-L
Passageways 1 coat of inside white formula 27 1 coat gray deck formula 20-L
Storerooms 1 coat of inside white formula 27 1 coat gray deck formula 20-L
Secondary battery compartments. 1 coat of inside white formula 27 1 coat gray deck formula 20-L
Torpedo rooms 1 coat of inside white formula 27 1 coat gray deck formula 20-L
All compartments within turrets, including turret handling rooms. 1 coat of inside white formula 27 1 coat gray deck formula 20-L
Shops 1 coat of inside white formula 27 1 coat red deck formula 23
Machinery spaces 1 coat of inside white formula 27 1 coat red deck formula 23
Ammunition spaces 1 coat of inside white formula 27 1 coat of inside white formula 27

SPACES FREQUENTLY WASHED DOWN

Compartment Vertical Sides and Overhead  Decks
Bathrooms 1 coat of inside white formula 27 1 coat of white deck formula 20-U
Dispensary 1 coat of inside white formula 27 1 coat of white deck formula 20-U
Examining and Operating Room 1 coat of inside white formula 27 1 coat of white deck formula 20-U
Laundry 1 coat of inside white formula 27 1 coat of white deck formula 20-U
Galley and all  food handling rooms. 1 coat of inside white formula 27 1 coat of white deck formula 20-U
Showers 1 coat of inside white formula 27 1 coat of white deck formula 20-U
Washrooms 1 coat of inside white formula 27 1 coat of white deck formula 20-U

OFFICES, CABINS, AND STATIONS

Compartment Vertical Sides and Overhead  Decks
Dynamo Room 1 coat light gray formula 27-L 1 coat red deck formula 23
Officer's (and CPO's) quarters and messroom. 1 coat light green formula 31. 1 coat dark green formula 19
Staterooms 1 coat light green formula 31. 1 coat dark green formula 19
Sickbay and isolation ward. 1 coat light green formula 31. 1 coat gray deck formula 20-L
Ship and fire control rooms 1 coat light green formula 31. 1 coat gray deck formula 20-L
Steering 1 coat light green formula 31. 1 coat gray deck formula 20-L
Pilot house 1 coat light green formula 31. 1 coat gray deck formula 20-L
Radio Room 1 coat light green formula 31. 1 coat gray deck formula 20-L
Torpedo tracking room 1 coat light gray formula 27-L 1 coat gray deck formula 20-L
Powder testing laboratory

 

1 coat light gray formula 27-L 1 coat gray deck formula 20-L
SPECIAL COMPARTMENTS
Photographic dark room 2 coats of acid resisting black formula 28.  1 coat black deck formula 24.
Acid and battery locker 1 coat of inside white formula 27 and 1 coat of white enamel formula 30. 1 coat gray deck formula 20-L
Battery shop and charging room 1 coat of inside white formula 27 and 1 coat of white enamel formula 30. 1 coat gray deck formula 20-L
Submarine battery compartment 1 coat of inside white formula 27 and 1 coat of white enamel formula 30. In accordance Detail (Hull) Specifications.
Voids 1 coat of inside white formula 27 1 coat gray deck formula 20-L

Fiber glass insulation. - Fiber glass board insulation shall be painted with one coat of fire-retardant paint to match the surrounding structure.

SECTION 5-B.

Finish of Compartments-Decks.

Wash Strake. - In general, bounding angles attaching decks to bulkheads, shall plating, and other vertical members, shall be painted the same color as the bulkhead or vertical member to which attached.  Where there is no bounding angle the color of the bulkhead shall be carried out on the deck to the edge of the fixed deck covering.  If the deck is bare and painted, the bulkhead color shall be carried to the toe of the welding bead adjacent to bulkhead.

Multiple course decks. - Before riveting, the upper surface of the lower course and under surface of upper course, and both surfaces of intermediate course of protective deck plating or other structure plated in two or more courses, shall be thoroughly coated with rust preventive compound, Navy Department Specification 14C6, Grade II.

Surfaces under gratings. - Metal surfaces on which gratings, or solid wood shutters are to be laid, except corrosion-resisting steel, copper-nickel alloy, aluminum, and surfaces specified as gray, shall be thoroughly coated with zinc-chromate primer, formula 84.

SECTION 5-C.

Tanks, Surface Vessels and Submarines.

General Requirements. - The entire inner surface of tanks shall be coated as specified in the following table, except that surfaces which are galvanized need not be painted:

Table II

Type of Tank Treatment
Drainage and Sanitary Bituminous primer and enamel
Peak; blisters; dry side of sea chests;
and all compartments having counterflood 
valves, except oil tanks
Remove zinc-chromate after-pickling paint entirely; apply 2 coats of varnish, formula 93, baked at 225 degrees F for 2 hours, or 1 coat of white plastic, formula 91 if water is not expected to go over 150 degrees F., or 2 coats of gilsonite paint, formula 92.
Water, main feed and filter Coatings as approved by the Bureau.
Gasoline Galvanized, zinc metal sprayed or other approved coating.
Lubricating Oil Remove zinc-chromate after-pickling paint before introducing oil.
Fuel Oil; Oil and Water Separating Do not touch up after-pickling paint; thoroughly wire brush to remove loose film before introduction of oil.
Submarine battery and battery water In accordance with vessel's Detail (Hull) Specifications.
Submarine main ballast, buoyancy, and negative. 1 coat zinc-chromate primer, 1 coat anticorrosive formula 14 and 1 coat, formula 89, 1 coat of cold plastic antifouling paint Mare Island formula 145 shall be applied over, formula 89 to a line 1 foot above the flood valves or flooding openings.
Submarine reserve fuel and fuel ballast Do not touch-up after-pickling paint at the last docking before delivery, thoroughly wire brush and coat with rust preventive compound.  See special notes below.
Submarine, variable ballast, including trim, WRT(water ' round torpedoes), and WRM (water' round mines). Primer and finish coat as approved by the Bureau, over the zinc-chromate after-pickling paint.

Special notes. - Plate edges, rivet heads, and points that are Ungalvanized shall be thoroughly coated as specified above for the respective tank.

Bilges shall receive one coat of inside white paint formula 27 over zinc-chromate primer.

The interior of compartments not fuel-oil tanks proper, but made oil tight for the purposes of carrying oil at some future date, shall not be painted until after having passed a satisfactory test.  However, this requirement is not to be construed as prohibiting  the coating of  the steel immediately after pickling with zinc-chromate primer formula 84.  if, after test, the paint is in good condition, it shall be touched up as necessary during the construction period and this may be considered as the finish coat of paint.  Otherwise, it shall be removed and a complete coat of zinc-chromate primer applied.

In lubricating oil tanks if there is a considerable lapse of time between wire brushing of the paint film and the admission of oil, the surfaces shall be given a coat of rust preventive compound, Navy Department Specification 52C18, Grade II.   The final cleaning  of the tanks shall be deferred until all work within the tank is unlikely.

In submarine reserve fuel or fuel ballast tanks, if fuel oil is to be placed in them within 6 months, these tanks may be coated with fuel oil and recoated with fuel oil at intervals as necessary to avoid appreciable rusting.  The coating of fuel oil herein described may be applied by putting fuel oil into the tanks and transferring it by compensation.

SECTION 5-D.

Inaccessible Spaces.

The following inaccessible and Ungalvanized spaces which cannot conveniently be reached for repainting, shall be cleaned, and coated with bituminous primer and enamel, Navy Department Specification 52P17 (to a thickness of 1/16th to 1/8 inch) or coated with pigmented rust preventive compound Navy Department Specification 14C6, Type A:

Bilge wells.
Peak tanks.
Machinery foundations
Areas under built-in furniture shall receive 1 complete coat of zinc-chromate primer, formula 84, in addition to the after-pickling coat.
Areas beneath cement and tiling.
 

SECTION 5-E.

Wood Finishes.

Unpainted or unvarnished wood (hardwood gratings, etc.) shall be treated with boiled linseed oil for preservation.

Wood to be varnished shall be filled and stained to the shade desired and three coats of formula 80 varnish applied.  Undercoats shall be sanded and finish coat polished to give an acceptable finish.

Wood to be painted shall be given two coats of paint to match surroundings.

SECTION 5-F.

Special Materials.

Bituminous composition. - 
Preparation of surface. -
The preparation of a surface for bituminous composition shall not be started until it is certain that no other work will be under way in or over the bilge or compartment to be coated, and that no water or grease, or oil will be drained into the compartment.  In applying bituminous compositions, it is absolutely essential that the surfaces to be covered are thoroughly dry and cleaned down to bare metal.  The utmost care shall be exercised to insure that the surfaces are entirely cleaned of all rust, grease, scale, or paint.  The metal shall be cleaned bright by sandpapering, sandblasting, or other approved means.  Where the surface is pitted, it may be brushed hard with a fine steel wire brush, such as is used preparatory to galvanizing or nickel plating, or by other approved means, to insure that the bottom of pits are made as clean and bright as the smooth surface of the plate.  All dust shall be removed just prior to applying the bituminous primer (solution).

Temperature. - In cold weather it may be necessary, in order to avoid having damp or minutely frosted surfaces, to blow heated air to insure satisfactory contact of the bituminous primer (solution).

Heating. - Bituminous enamel shall be heated in pots provided with thermometers, and temperatures shall be regulated  within limits specified by the manufacturers of the enamel.

Application. - The bituminous primer (solution) shall be applied as soon as practicable after the structure has been cleaned and made ready.  It shall be well spread with a brush, and care shall be taken to insure that no spots are left uncovered.  After the primer has dried, or at least become tacky, it shall be followed by a coat of bituminous enamel, applied hot.  In any case, bituminous enamel shall be applied within 24 hours after the primer is applied.  Long drying periods result in lack of adhesion of the enamel.

The enamel shall be applied to the lower surfaces first, as it has been found that in coating the upper surfaces first, drippings and streamers there from cause difficulty in the proper coating of the lower surfaces.  It shall be applied with a brush to a minimum thickness of 1/16th inch.  For flat horizontal surfaces the enamel shall be spread rapidly with a brush or some equally efficient means to a minimum thickness of 1/8th inch, except in continuously wet bilges and sumps where thickness shall be 1/4 inch.

The enamel shall be applied along the lower edge of the bulkhead bounding angles, boiler and machinery foundations, and other metal work projecting through the enamel, in order to completely coat the angles.

As the primer (solution) and enamel are both black, it is difficult to see where the enamel has been applied.  Special care is necessary, therefore, to insure that the entire surface is coated with enamel.

The applied film of bituminous primer (solution) shall be perfectly clean and free from all grease, dirt, oil, moisture, etc., before applying the enamel.

Bituminous solution is intended only as a bond between the enamel and the metal surface.  It is not a protective coating and therefore shall not be used as such.

Plastic compositions for tanks. - The material is broken up by sledges into pieces whose largest dimension should not be over 6 inches.  The broken material is melted in steam-heated or gas fired reducing kettles (standard hot plastic reducing kettles) and raised to a temperature of 400 degrees F.  The reducing kettle should be as close as possible to the place of application to avoid heat losses in transferring material.  When it is inconvenient or impossible to place the reducing kettle in the bottom  of the drydock near the work, a 10-gallon "holding kettle" is used to maintain a supply of material  at 400 degrees F. within a few feet of the tank openings.

The material at 400 degrees F. is drawn off as needed into insulated gallon paint pots and is immediately handed into the tank for application.  Ordinarily between 1/2 and 3/4 of a gallon of melted material is placed in each pot.  The amount should be regulated so that all the material in the pot can be brushed out before the temperature drops below 300 degrees F.  Under average conditions the material will maintain sufficient heat for 20 minutes if an insulated pot is used.  A standard one gallon paint pot is satisfactory.  This pot is slipped into a detachable asbestos lagged shell which clamps onto the bail supports of the standard pot.

A standard 2 1/2 inch brush has been found to the the most efficient for a brush application.  The brush should not be dipped over 2 inches into the melted material.  If too much paint is taken on the brush it will be difficult to brush it out to a thin, even layer before it hardens.  All work should be carefully for pinholes and holidays as the work progresses.  A coating between 1/32nd and 1/50th inch is considered ideal and is easily attained if the material is applied correctly and at a temperature above 300 degrees F.  A coating of this thickness weighs between 0.135 and .25 pounds per square foot.

Material can also be applied by spraying with the standard equipment used for the application of hot plastic antifouling paint.  All bulkheads and large flat areas are easily coated with the hot spray.  The smaller areas such as stiffeners, I beams, etc., cannot be sprayed very well with this equipment and are best touched up by brush after the larger areas have been coated.  Any pinholes in the sprayed areas are also touched up with a brush at this time.  The spray job gives a slightly heavier film than a good brush application but the increase in weight is not considered excessive in view of the saving of time and labor.

Portland Cement. -
Applications. -
No cement shall be applied until compartments are completed and tested satisfactorily for tightness.  Wherever cement is proposed for use on iron or steel, the extent, location, and details of the installation shall be referred to the Bureau for approval.

Uses. - Cement shall be used only for the following purposes:

Continuous or with tiling in areas around water drains.  It shall be applied over bituminous enamel and slope toward the drain.  the total thickness shall not exceed 1 3/4 inches.

On a specific approval and to a minimum thickness for filling pockets or crevices.

Where ceramic tiling is provided as a deck covering, the deck plating shall be stiffened where necessary for plating under 10.2 pounds on 4-foot beam spacing.  The method and order of application shall be as follows:

Bituminous coat, primer and enamel; 3/4 inch thick.

Concrete, 1 part Portland cement, 2 parts Haydite or equivalent; 3/4 inch thick.

Float coat for tile, 1 part Portland cement, 1 part sand; 1/2 inch thick Tile, 1/4 inch thick.

Total thickness shall not exceed 1 3/4 inches except as required for drainage.

In applying the base for the tile, the deck plating shall first be thoroughly cleaned, the bituminous primer shall then be applied cold, followed by the enamel, applied hot, then another coat of primer with dry Portland cement scattered over the surface while wet.  The concrete shall then be applied, followed with the float coat and tile.

All metal blocks and stools for fastenings in way of tiling shall be welded to the deck or secured by at least tow fastenings before the cement is laid.

Gutters and floor drains shall be fitted as required.  Tiling shall in all cases slope toward the drain and in addition shall slope locally away from the bulkheads and fittings to prevent water standing against the metal.  Fillet tile shall be used at bulkheads and coamings, except where the bulkhead stiffening renders this impracticable.

Quality. - Cement used on vessels shall be of a light weight grade preferably one developing high early strength.  Cement shall be mixed with siliceous sand which shall consist of a well graded mixture of course and fine grains, with the coarse grains predominating.  Not more than 30 percent shall pass a No. 50 sieve.  It shall be free from clay, loam, mud, salt, alkali, organic matter, or other impurities, and particles not passing a 1/4 inch mesh screen, unless, in the opinion of the officer-in-charge, the proportion of particles above 1/4 inch is so small that the sand will perform its functions in the concrete without screening.  Sand for concrete shall contain not more than 5 percent of silt when measured by volume by shaking a sample of the material with water and allowing it to settle.

Crusher screenings passing a 1/4 inch mesh screen may be combined  with and measured as sand, but not more than 1/3 of the same in any one batch shall be of this material, unless it can be shown that the sizes of the particles are practically in the same proportion as in the most suitable grades of natural sand.

Mixing. - In mixing Portland cement (except for setting tiling and except where used as deck covering) 1 part of cement and 2 parts of sand shall be used for the filling coat.  This shall be mixed in small quantities to prevent setting prior to application, and in general, shall be mixed with the least amount of water that will permit a proper consistency for working.

Curing. - The necessary curing after the cement has set shall be done by keeping the work moist from about 2 to 10 days depending upon the type of Portland cement used, early strength requiring less time.

Testing. - All cement shall be carefully tested to ascertain whether it has properly adhered to the metal and, where not found to adhere, the contractors will be required to remove the old cement and apply new cement until such adherence is obtained.

Rust Preventive Compound. - Rust preventive compound shall be applied so that the thickness does not exceed 1/16th inch.  Where the thickness after application exceeds 1/16th inch, the excess thickness shall be scrapped off.

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